CTA to acquire properties for 95th Street Terminal, awards Red Line South project contract

The Chicago Transit Authority granted approval to begin the process of acquiring property near its 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal on Chicago’s South Side as part of the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project. The project is an estimated $240-million initiative that will expand and improve the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal.

The nine properties identified for acquisition are located directly off the expressway and are primarily commercial properties with a few vacant lots.

This allows the CTA to begin the acquisition process, subject to the requirements of federal and state law. Any purchase of a property by CTA, whether by negotiation or court order, cannot take place without subsequent board action.

The 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal is one of CTA’s busiest, with 24-hour Red Line service and more than 1,000 CTA and Pace bus trips on a typical weekday. The current configuration does not have adequate capacity to efficiently serve customers, which number around 20,000 on an average weekday.

L.B. Foster Spokane facility Receives IndustryWeek 2012 Best Plant recognition

L.B. Foster Company’s CXT Concrete Ties facility in Spokane, Wash., has been selected as a finalist in IndustryWeek magazine’s annual 2012 Best Plants Award for Excellence in Manufacturing competition. The publication reported online that North American finalists for this recognition included the Washington state rail products facility.

Kennedy named president of RailWorks Track Services

RailWorks Corporation has promoted Ed Kennedy to president of RailWorks Track Services, Inc.

Iowa grants more than $4 million to state railroad projects

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $4 million in funding for nine rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) program. The rail projects are expected to support the creation and retention of more than 110 jobs within the next three years and spur development of six industrial areas across the state. The proposed developments will leverage millions in new capital investments across the state.

Metrolinx awards Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown tunnel contract

In Toronto, ON, Canada, the Metrolinx Board awarded the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown tunnel construction contract from the west launch shaft area near Black Creek Drive to Yonge-Eglinton station to Crosstown Transit Constructors

Mass. Gov. Patrick appoints MassDOT Board of Directors

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick appointed Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors, adding to the panel new individuals with extensive expertise and leadership in transportation and business.

Efforts to rebuild WMATA system picking up steam

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s investment in projects to rebuild and modernize its railroad, trains, stations and buses grew by 26 percent to $770 million in FY2012, an increase of nearly $160 million and is on track to continue ramping up to nearly a billion dollars this year.

Phoenix Valley Metro accelerates LRT project

Construction of light rail is back on the move in Phoenix, Ariz., with the re-launch of the Northwest extension along 19th Avenue from the current end-of-line north 3.2 miles to Dunlap Avenue. The project has received approval to accelerate the completion year from 2023 to 2016. Final design is underway; construction will begin in early 2013.

Amtrak continues to hit ridership records

Amtrak ridership is surging this year with 11 consecutive monthly ridership records. In each month of the current fiscal year, Amtrak has posted the highest ridership total ever for that particular month with the final month of September also expected to be a new record. In addition, July was the single best ridership month in the history of Amtrak.

AECOM awarded contract to help Denver RTD complete I-225 rail line

AECOM Technology Corporation was awarded a contract to provide final design services for the Denver Regional Transportation District’s forthcoming I-225 light-rail line.

NCDOT halts grade separation project, will continue to study rail safety

After hearing concerns from citizens and re-evaluating the project budget, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has decided not to proceed with the design and construction of the 24th Street grade separation project in Kannapolis at this time. Instead, the department will conduct an in-depth study to determine the most effective location for the project with the fewest effects on residents, business owners and the environment.

Simmons-Boardman and RailAdvisor join forces

Railway Age, International Railway Journal and Railway Track and Structures have partnered with RailAdvisor to present the world’s railway information in a more concise and global manner than ever before.

Watco Transportation Services names AVP transportation safety

Keith Barksdale has accepted the position of assistant vice president of transportation safety at Watco Transportation Services. As assistant vice president of transportation safety, his responsibilities include leading the regional safety quality and assurance managers in carrying safety initiatives to the field level and ensure that the company has rule compliance on existing programs.

Sen. Schumer: FRA OKs Niagara Falls Intermodal Center funding

The Federal Railroad Administration has finalized the grant agreement with local stakeholders unlocking $16.5 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funding for the Niagara Falls Intermodal Transportation Center in New York. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer wrote to FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo in July, urging the administrator to finalize this important grant agreement and allow this long awaited project to finally move forward.

University of Alberta opens rail research facility

The University of Alberta in Canada has launched a new partnership that will support jobs and long-term success in the Canadian rail sector. This new partnership, the Canadian Rail Research laboratory, is a joint initiative between the Government of Canada, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF), the Association of American Railroads, Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and the University of Alberta.

FRA proposes rule on system safety programs

The Federal Railroad Administration prepared a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs (SSP) to further improve the safety of their operations. 

KCS maintenance pattern ensures consistent service

KCS president and CEO Dave Starling, executive vice president and chief operating officer Dave Ebbrecht and several others from the transportation, engineering, mechanical, sales and marketing and purchasing teams participated in an inspection trip of the lines between Heavener, Okla. and Shreveport, La., between Shreveport and Wylie, Texas, and south from Shreveport to the intermodal shipper facility in Kendleton, Texas.

Georgia & Florida Railway UTU members to vote on new pact

United Transportation Union-represented maintenance-of-way employees on Georgia & Florida Railway are voting through September 22 on a tentative new agreement, their first since joining the union.

California’s Caltrain and Metrolink celebrate Rail Safety Month

Southern California’s Caltrain Board adopted a proclamation for Railroad Safety Month. The agency addresses safety through a comprehensive, ongoing program that focuses on the “three E’s of railroad safety” – education, enforcement and engineering.

Twin Cities celebrates joining of Central Corridor, Hiawatha LRT

Crews joined the Minneapolis – St. Paul Central Corridor light-rail track to existing Hiawatha light-rail track as they welded the two lines together between the Metrodome and Cedar Riverside stations.

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